XC Racer Blog Post

Team XCracer win at Bikefest!

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BY: Richard Jones

Published: 7th July, 2012


Bristol Bike Fest. 


Bristol Bike Fest was team XCRacer.com's first opportunity to participate in a team event.  We had entered the mixed team of four in the 12 hour race totally unaware of the level of competition that we were up against. 


The week building up to the event was like much of our summer so far…full of rain.  It had became apparent on Friday that they where turning people away who were turning up early because the camping fields were waterlogged and the a muddy bog was beginning to appear.  Thankfully the organisers quickly set about laying down some hard packed road sections which made getting around a lot easier. 


Donna and Phil where on the ball and had parked a short walk away in the rugby ground.  Hard packed parking and showers made this the best spot to camp and set up base. 


Saturday morning and by dribs and drabs our team came together.  Talk quickly turned to who was being nominated for the run and with all of us knowing that Niall was becoming quite the pace setter then it fell to him to take the first lap. 


We all got kitted up and set up a marquee in the Arena.  Niall and myself then headed down to the start. 


Within no time there were hundreds of lycra cladded runners storming up the fire road desperately trying to find their bikes.  Niall had got a great start and well with in the first bunch to be heading off. 


I headed back and began to prepare to take over from Niall for lap 2.  Whilst standing in the hand over I was chatting to Ben from Torq.   It became apparent that they were our main competion.  In no time at all Torq had come in to complete their first lap. 

A laid back approach to racing from Verity.


I knew at this point it was going to be a tough 12 hours of racing.  A few minutes passed until it was my time to head out.  I hadn't had the opportunity to pre ride the course so each turn and hill came as a surprise.  The course was brilliant and as if by magic seemed to be pretty much dry unlike the camping areas. 


The course was mostly made up of purpose made hard backed flowing trails with many different line choices.  There were three main climbs and although none of them were particular big or challenging they all seemed to sting the legs.


After roughly 30 minutes I was back in the arena and handing over to Verity.  She put out an outstanding lap time and we were soon closely on Torq wheels. 


Donna had been watching the race unfold and had realized that with such short lap times there seemed to be a lot of time being lost in the hand over pits.  This was very true and by the time we had all done our first lap we decided to move onto doubles.  This is not a tactic I would usually use however it seemed to pay off and felt a lot better: the first lap was great to warm up and settle down and then out onto the second where you could really try to drop the hammer.  A bit over a hour and you were back in the arena chilling. 


This tactic resulted in us quickly being right on Torq's wheels. By the time I had came around for my second set of doubles we were just 20 seconds or so from them. 


As Ben left the handover I waited eagerly desperate to get out there and try to hunt him down!  The moment came and I couldn't wait.  The first sections of singletrack were brilliant and incredibly fast, each small incline I attacked and round every corner I was beginning to see the orange of the Torq jersey.  A quarter of a lap passed until I had finally managed to join his wheel.  For the rest of the lap we both tried attacking trying to lose one and other however neither one of us was successful.  We rode into the arena together however I wasn't stopping I had another lap to go and I knew I had the advantage. 


Torq rider Ben in the background just handing over as I continue out on my double. 


This lap seemed to be very painful as I spent the whole time giving it my all and just wanted to increase our lead by as much as possible.  As I entered the arena and handed back over to Verity there was no sign of Torq - it was to be another two and a half minutes until they where back. 


Verity knew she had the advantage as she was out at the same time as the Torq's female rider.  She put a further minute or so into her and had brought us well into the lead.  However for her second lap she was up against Torqs Elite male rider Neil as expected he managed to claw back a minute or so.  An outstanding ride from Verity.


Next up was Phil and it was down to him to clinch the race, we were coming up to the last two hours so his double lap was very important.  As we all expected Phil did just what we all knew he would and that was ride incredibly quickly.  It barely seemed any time at all until Phil was flying through the arena at an incredible speed. 


Take note of the pain face from Phil!


Just over an hour passed and Phil handed over to Neil.  With a little over a hour to go Neil knew it was time for him to shine and that he did.  He accelerated into the distance and proceeded to put out an outstanding lap time that was one of his quickest even after 4 laps.  However this brought out the question of whether we needed to go out again.  I was in the pits prepped and ready to do one more if needed.  Torq was also waiting in the pits.  I didn't think we would have time to finish the lap and in Bike Fest rules this would mean the lap wouldn't count, however it was too close to call so the decision was made the moment Neil came in for me to head out again. 


Evan at this point I wasn't sure if Torq would have time to head out as well however no one wanted to take the risk.  I set about giving it my all however after the previous five laps my legs were beginning to ache and the short inclines were becoming more painful.  A quarter of the way round the lap I was joined by Phil riding in the opposite direction, thankfully he had great news.  Torq never went out for their last lap so there was no need for me to finish mine which was great. 


Thankfully it was all enough for us to clinch the mixed team win by a margin of 3 minutes.  A brilliant day's racing with a fantastic bunch of people, not only did we race hard but we successfully chilled and chatted in between. 


Thanks to everybody involved. 


Richard


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This blog post was written by a third party and their views do not necessarily reflect the views of XCRacer.com

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